Cambridge

Cambridge's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Cambridge increased by 14%, from almost 109,000 to 124,000.

The addition of just over 15,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cambridge was home to, on average, 22 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Cambridge

Latest census data also show that the median age of Cambridge remained 31 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had the lowest average age in Eastof England and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 3,700 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by about 300.

About 25% of people in Cambridge are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Cambridge by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

Cambridge saw Eastof England's second-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in three (34%) households in Cambridge had only one person, compared with 36% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.9% to 11%.

Across the region, only Southend-on-Sea saw a greater fall in the proportion of one-person households (from 35% to 33%).

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Cambridge

The proportion of married people fell in Cambridge, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Eastof England, except Welwyn Hatfield.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 54% to 50%.

During this period, Cambridge fell below Norwich to become the Eastof England local authority area with the second-lowest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Cambridge residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England, while the percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care fell faster than anywhere else in the region

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Cambridge remained close to 0.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Cambridge by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Cambridge

Cambridge saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 17 (5.8%) in Cambridge reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.3% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 1.9% to 2.1%.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield (from 7.3% to 6.4%) and Thurrock (from 6.2% to 5.5%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Cambridge

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 38% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 38% in 2001

The number of people in Cambridge that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 29,000 in 2001 to about 47,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 27% to 38% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Cambridge that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 63,000 in 2001 to about 56,000 in 2011 (from 58% to 45%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to just over 11,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 9.6% to 9.0%.

About 4,900 people (2.4%) said they were Muslim, up from about 2,700 in 2001 (4.0%).

The population without a religion in Cambridge increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Cambridge by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Cambridge

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 83% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 83% in 2001

The number of people in Cambridge from the White ethnic groups increased from about 97,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 89% to 83%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Cambridge from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 6,400 in 2001 to about 14,000 in 2011 (from 5.9% to 11%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 2,100 to about 3,900 (from 2.0% to 3.2%).

Just under 2,100 people (1.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 1,500 in 2001 (1.7%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Cambridge decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Cambridge by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Cambridge that rented privately increased from 20% to 26% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in four (24%) households lived in social housing, compared with 23% in 2001. While the percentage of Cambridge households that owned their home decreased from 53% to 47%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Cambridge increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cambridge, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Cambridge residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.4% to 3.6% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Cambridge residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 9.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Cambridge decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Cambridge, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

The percentage of Cambridge residents that were studying increased from 4.2% to 5.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 48%, while the percentage of Cambridge residents that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 2.7%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Cambridge increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Cambridge, Eastof England and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Cambridge working less than 16 hours increased from 2.8% to 4.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (10.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Cambridge increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Cambridge, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Cambridge with children increased from 23% to 24% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (69%) households had no children, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of households in Cambridge with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 6.6%.

The proportion of households with children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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